I’ve never been on a cruise (though I did watch a lot of Love Boat back in the day), but I do love a tropical capsule wardrobe. So I tapped Julianne Costigan, who leads a Toronto-based fashion-styling team that works with celebrities, women of influence, editorial and advertising clients. Her firm provides customized services that range from hourly consults to complete programs to analyze your current closet, shop for new stuff and provide digitized outfit recommendations. “We recently prepped a client for Paris fashion week,” says Costigan. “She sent us her itinerary, and we collaborated to build her wardrobe for the whole trip.” This is obviously a fantasy on many levels, but we can learn about cruise from the holistic approach Costigan’s team took here.
“You have to be strategic,” she says of cruise life. “There may not be much space in the cabin to unpack, or store multiple pieces of luggage.” It’s all about versatility, she says. “You end up wearing the same things, most of the time.”
First off, determine your colour palette. “Go through your closet to see what you have that is appropriate to the warm weather,” she says. “You will want to shop – it feels great to travel with a few new things – but again, only buy strategically.” Shop in your closet first, she says; look for pieces you love but that you haven’t worn
By colour palette, she means that everything really does need to “go together.” Take her example of a citrus theme for tropical destinations: “If you start with a white and cream base, you can layer on colour. Say a red short, a patterned dress, a yellow sweater. They all go together.”
Colour is a mood booster. “I’m a big fan of dopamine dressing,” says Costigan. “Even if you typically don’t wear colour, now is the time to test it out. Wearing colour impacts you, and those around you,” she says, an important point if you are travelling with a big family group. “There is energy in colour, freedom and spontaneity.”
Costigan’s tip for finding resort wear out of season is consignment shops. “It’s a sustainable approach, first and foremost,” she says, and at a great price point. “It is also practical, because while regular stores right now are full of fall/winter merchandise, consignment places often have out-of-season stock available. It is a great way to buy a special piece or two to supplement what you have in your closet.” Her go-to is My Favourite Consignment Shop in Toronto; she adds that it is best to shop in store rather than online, as they have more stock there to offer you.
So how dressy should you go? Costigan says go for it. “It’s fun to dress up,” she says. “Besides, you are going somewhere no one knows you! Step outside your comfort zone, push your style a little bit!” She adds that it is easier to dress something down than to dress something up. For instance, you can change up your shoes from sneakers for daytime exploring in port to dressy sandals for dinner.
Accessories are a big vibe shifter. “I always bring at least two big chunky bangles,” she says, of tropical packing, “to make a statement.” Bring two or three different belts, she says; they are the easiest way to refine your silhouette and to change the mood. Costigan also says she tends to buy accessories on vacation. “It is nice to have something that marks the memory of where you have gone. Plus it tends to be local, and will feel right to wear in that place.”
Fabric is an important consideration. She knows people are afraid of linen, but it is really the most practical, and comfortable, alternative. “Linen has made a major comeback,” she says. “You have to accept it is going to wrinkle, but that is how it is supposed to look!” Costigan hangs her linen pieces in the bathroom as soon as she arrives. Downy’s Wrinkle Release Spray is the secret weapon she packs for both herself and her clients – available on Amazon. “There are all kinds of linen blends out there now,” she says, “and nothing beats a flowy pair of linen trousers.” Paired with a flat shoe, she says the effect is “always elegant.”
Her one non-negotiable on the packing list is a white blouse. These are Costigan’s top personal picks for white shirts: Rails Boxy fit with drop shoulder detail, this French fit from from T.Line, and this great Playa Shirt Dress from Vitamin A, that can be a cover up, a dress, or knotted as a shirt.
The other basic you absolutely need is great T-shirts. She is a huge fan of the basic Reitmans T. We all love to shop Canadian when we can, and, she says, “the nearly 100-year-old Canadian retailer has come up with a classic T, ribbed with a quality, fitted cut at an amazing price point.” If you want to splurge a bit, she recommends Patrick Assaraf, which has a more boxy fit.
For dresses, jersey is the way to go, says Costigan. “You can’t beat a Diane von Furstenburg wrap dress,” she says, relating a story about how when she couldn’t find one she liked in the New York store. The staff brought DVF herself down to the shop and she promptly found the perfect dress for Costigan, which she subsequently packed for every trip and wore to tatters. The message is that there is a wrap dress for everybody.
Jersey rolls up to nothing, doesn’t wrinkle, and clings where you want it to, but not where you don’t want it to.
For shorts, Costigan says the old rule of thumb (or finger) is that, for the most flattering length, the hem should hit your thigh where the tip of your middle digit does. But really, shorts need to be hemmed to where you are most comfortable. If shorts are a no-go for you, fear not: capris are coming back and are nearly universally flattering.
The most important thing to pack, and the trickiest, is a bathing suit. Costigan recommends another Canadian brand, Visual Mood, for their reversible swimwear. Priced in the $150 to $200 zone, they are a good investment as they are smart enough to double as a bodysuit under a pair of wide-legged linen trousers and a blazer. The brand also has some cute cover-ups with sleeves to ease the poolside transition.
The biggest tip of all from the Costigan team is to plan far ahead, which you clearly are doing, Samantha, for your holiday family cruise. Inventory your closet, start shopping, and leave space for some serendipity. If you feel prepped and packed with intention, then you will be free to relax and get into the swing of things.
Always asking questions,
—Leanne Delap
